Sevadaar of the month
|
Rajvir Singh | August 2018 Why do you volunteer with S4E? I volunteer with S4E due to my personal beliefs on life as well as being a Sikh. Providing a positive attitude on life toward others is something I believe in and with many of these events by S4E, this is accomplished. Seva is something I understand the value and belief in as being a better person in this modern world. When similar interests meet, there is a bond waiting to happen. This is what I see from this organization with my personal interests. What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite event with S4E has been with the Ronald McDonald event where we prepared food for the children and their families at the UM children hospital. This event was fun and meaningful at the same time. The process of preparing a quality meal for the stressed families as they endure a hardship in their life is something that can't be explained. The event turned course when we had the opportunity to speak with a father of a child at the hospital about their situation. The appreciation of the warm cooked dinner is where I saw it being one of my favorite and valued experience. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy playing and watching soccer, basketball, and football. I also enjoy being outdoors from activities like camping to hiking. Lastly, I like spending moments with my close family and friends |
|
Harleen Singh | July 2018
Why do you volunteer with S4E? I joined S4E to enhance my leadership skills. I’ve always wanted to make a difference. I remember how some years ago, I would see people on YouTube, walking around areas that would be occupied by homeless people, to aid them. The one thing that would always capture my heart, would be the smile that would come across the homeless people’s faces. Then, I told myself : “ I wanna help people and make them smile too!” Of course, my parents wouldn’t just let me randomly walk in the streets of Detroit all by myself.. thankfully a family member contacted me and told me about S4E. After the first service event, I felt so happy that I could be a part of an organization that aims to fulfill the needs of people, who struggle to do it alone due to a certain disability, financial situation, etc. Putting a smile on others’ faces, puts one on yours also. It’s a win-win situation! What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite S4E event so far has to be the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital meal-prep for sick children and their families. That was the first event I attended. The Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital, is populated by children who suffer from many different types of illnesses. I remember during the service, we encountered a parent. The parent was from New York, but was at the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital, because his son was in the process of getting a bone marrow transplant. He mentioned how his son has been sick for a long time. After meeting this parent, I wondered, about where all these children were from. But here’s the thing: it didn’t matter where the children were from. What mattered was, that they wouldn’t go to sleep with an empty stomach. Plus, it was Mexican food, yum! What do you like to do in your spare time? I’m a very artsy person. So in my spare time, I love writing poetry or learning new songs and dances. Also, I love spending time with my family and friends. |
|
Pardeep Tatla | June 2018
Why do you volunteer with S4E? I started volunteering with S4E because I believe in seva. Being a Sikh is a big part of who I am and doing seva is a big part of Sikhi. I love knowing that I made a positive impact in someone's life, no matter how small. Or at least, I like to think that I did . What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite event has been 'Baseball with Children with Disabilities'. I think the Miracle League is doing an outstanding job organizing the events and the fact that it's all volunteer driven really makes it amazing. There was something very special about being to provide that opportunity for those kids who may not have had it otherwise. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time I like to play sports and exercise. I also love being with family/friends, watching TV, and trying new foods. |
|
Arshpreet Saraan | May 2018
Why do you volunteer with S4E? As someone who was raised in the Detroit area, I feel it is very important to give back to the community that I belong to. I have done service trips in the Dominican Republic and in India, but volunteering in those places always felt short-lived because each trip was only about a week long. With S4E, I like that I can volunteer and give back to the community right where I live. When people think of volunteering, many times they feel they need to do something on a large scale to make a difference, but the smallest ways of giving back are just as valuable. I have seen how S4E's events have a meaningful impact in the Detroit area and I am honored to be a part of an organization that is committed to serving its own community. Also, I admire how S4E makes connections with other community organizations such as the Boys & Girls Club in Detroit and Food Gatherers because I believe meaningful change in a community comes when everyone works together. What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite S4E event has been the Ronald McDonald House event where we prepared dinner for families with hospitalized children. I have worked at the U of M Hospital and seen firsthand the distress that family members go through, so I really love what Seva4Everybody is doing in collaboration with the Ronald McDonald House. Serving a warm meal to the family members goes a long way! It was also a lot of fun making the meal alongside my fellow sevadaars! What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to try making new dishes because I love cooking! Also, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and playing basketball. |
|
Jesse Grewal | April 2018
Why do you volunteer with S4E? It can be easy in life to get caught up with work/school/family/etc, and being preoccupied with these things can make it pretty easy to turn a blind eye to some of the hardship and challenges that our own communities face. What Seva4Everybody allows me to do is to take time out of my day and dedicate it to connecting with those in need alongside my fellow sevadaars. It's a rewarding experience through which I can keep myself connected to the issues in our society while also being able to play a part in helping elevate our community. What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite S4E event so far would have to be the "Day of Seva" where we were able to prepare and package meals and care packages to pass out to the homeless in Detroit. It's my favorite because it was the first Seva event I was able to attend in downtown Detroit and it opened my eyes to how much our help is needed and appreciated in those communities. From children to adults, I could see the impact that S4E was making on everyone's lives and I've been hooked to the organization ever since. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like being active and being outdoors. I enjoy biking, hiking, diving, playing basketball, and, of course, getting my jhoomer on on the dancefloor. |
|
Jessica Sidhu | March 2018
Why do you volunteer with S4E? We often get caught up in our daily routines and forget to shed light on those things that are not prioritized as much in life. I have always been passionate about giving back to the community and making a difference to those around me. Since the completion of undergrad, I have been trying to find a group of individuals with the same passion. S4E is an organization of individuals that gives its time and selfless service to others. The organization is truly inspiring and the underpinning of our community. I have a strong sense of making ties with the community and ensuring that the citizens are proud of the place in which they live. I believe this is a great medium to build those connections and I value the beliefs instilled in S4E. What has been your favorite S4E event? All of the events organized by S4E are unique and meaningful. My favorite volunteer event thus far has been the Foster Closet of Michigan. This organization provides personal items to begin the process of rebuilding a foster child’s self-esteem and to have belongings they can finally call their own. During this event, I organized the personal items in categories by season and size. It was humbling to have volunteers contribute to this event and allow foster families the experience of being able to choose items as they wish without having to think twice about affordability. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends. Also, I enjoy cooking unique dishes and desserts at home. |
|
Komal Kaur | February 2018
Why do you volunteer with S4E? S4E is an organization that puts weight on serving the community and helping those less fortunate. Volunteers working with S4E are able to rebuild and give back to the community in a hands - on way. I like the fact that I can actively partake in events, and see the differences being made. Even little things go a long way, and I am thankful that S4E has helped me grow and diversify in this way. Seva is always a wonderful and rewarding experience. What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite S4E event was helping out at Ronald McDonald House! The families living there were definitely going through a hard time and appreciated the warm meal, and I enjoyed being able to help out and learn from the experience. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I love to do Henna on my friends and roommates. I enjoy baking and (of course) eating, and spending time with friends and family. |
|
Manshant Singh | January 2018
Why do you volunteer with S4E? Seva is one of the core values of Sikhism. I think the best way of incorporating seva into our daily lives is by giving back to the community and helping those in need. I personally love doing seva because it humbles me and reminds me of the countless blessings Waheguru has bestowed upon me. Seva4Everybody provides an amazing platform for its members to do seva and give back to our community through various different events organized regularly. I have had the opportunity to meet new people every time I have helped out during the seva events. I firmly believe that “We don’t give because we have, but we have because we give” and Seva4Everybody continues to help me help those in need through all their amazing seva events. What has been your favorite S4E event? Although all of the seva events organized by Seva4Everybody are amazing and unique in their own ways, I would say that my favorite event was “Detroit Day of Seva” organized in July to honor the victims of the Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting in 2012. I feel that it is such an amazing way to honor the victims as young and old all came together to give back to the people in need. What do you like to do in your spare time? I usually spend my spare time hanging around with family and friends. I also spend a good chunk of my free time working on my business projects. |
|
Camryn Gill | December 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? When I became a board member for the Sikh Students Association at the University of Michigan, I knew that I wanted to partner with Seva4Everybody because I wanted to be a part of a group that works hard and encourages selfless acts of kindness towards those who are less fortunate. Seva4Everybody provides me, and other members, with so many amazing and diverse opportunities to give back to our community and I love meeting new people every time I come to help out! Each event that I have attended has been so rewarding and I feel so thankful to take part in an organization that teaches me such humbling values and encourages me to want to be a better person. What has been your favorite S4E event? I’d have to say that helping out at the Miracle League baseball tournament was my favorite event just because I had a chance to play with the kids and really make their day. Being able to see them laugh and play with their friends was so fulfilling and I’ll never forget how awesome I felt to be a part of their happiness!! What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to watch basketball, hang out with my friends & family, read, and watch movies! |
|
Sukhman Kaur | November 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? As a Sikh, doing kirtan and paath is important, but Sikhi is doing way beyond that. It's our role to extend ourselves beyond a personal level of Sikhi and to serve the communities around us. This is what seva is. When many of us think of seva, we just think that it is just helping around the Gurdwara, but what we don’t realize is that we need to do it to help our community as a whole. S4E has given me an opportunity to give back to the community as well as me being able to practice my Sikhi. Ever since I starting incorporating seva more into my life, I feel a sense of true relief and contentment just because seva has become part of my lifestyle rather than something I have to do. What has been your favorite S4E event? Although I have enjoyed all the S4E events, I would say my favorite event would be the one we did back in July, "Detroit Day of Seva" to honor the victims and survivors of the Oak Creek tragedy. Over 15 cities all over the US have participated in the National Day of Seva as it unified all sikh communities together by allowing them to give back on a day that such a tragedy that had happened. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to spend time with family and friends. I also enjoy doing Bhangra and helping out with Aasraa Food Pantry every now and then! |
|
Manvir Sandhu | October 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? I volunteer with S4E because doing seva with a group of people who truly care about serving their community makes it such a rewarding experience. Being able to give back is a privilege and I’m thankful S4E provides so many opportunities to do so. What has been your favorite S4E event? I’ve enjoyed them all, but Miracle League was my favorite because of the kids. They warmed up to us quickly, which made it even more fun to play with them. What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to dance and read! |
|
Bhavneet Singh | September 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? One of the tenets of Sikhism is Vand Chhakna, which means that one should give to charity and care for others. I feel that Seva, an act of selfless service with no thought of rewards/gifts in return, is a great way to carry out this belief. Furthermore, I strongly believe that Seva4Everybody provides me and all of its members with wonderful opportunities to do Seva and genuinely give back to the community. In addition, I truly admire how S4E hosts a variety of events to impact a diverse group of individuals of all ages. I have bonded very well with my fellow sevadaars and have had the opportunity to meet some inspiring people along the way. To be able to make a difference in someone’s life and in the community is very fulfilling, and S4E's events have never failed to deliver this feeling. What has been your favorite S4E event? Although every S4E event has been unique and amazing, I would have to say that volunteering at Miracle League was one of my favorite events. We had the chance to play baseball with children who have disabilities, and we helped the kids bat, field, and run around the bases when necessary. Seeing them play was so inspiring as the kids supported one another and had crazy amounts of energy. I will honestly say that they performed much better than I ever could! Additionally, it was awesome to bond with these kids, and I remember having a great conversation about Star Wars with one of the kids and the excitement we had for the Star Wars movie, “Rogue One”. As cliché as this will sound, seeing them smile constantly and have no worries about anything was priceless. What do you like to do in your spare time? I love hanging out with my family/friends, catch up on life, and eat (a lot). I also love to do Bhangra, a traditional folk dance from Punjab, India, and consider it a great cardio workout. I very much enjoy pick-up basketball whenever the time permits. As the saying goes, “ball is life.” |
|
Marquel Butler | August 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? I volunteer with S4E because it's been a great opportunity to meet many different people, give back and help others in the community. It feels good to know that I might have made a difference in someone's life and helped put a smile on their face. What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite S4E event so far was the Thanksgiving back, I got the opportunity to talk to some of the people that came to the event and hear about some of the things that they have been through and the life they had before becoming homeless and it really put somethings in a different perspective for me. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my free time I like to hang out with my family and friends, watch movies, and play sports. |
|
Rasna Kaur | July 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? I had heard about S4E for a while and hadn't been able to make it out to an event until I started to help organize Camp Khalsa. Through my work with Camp Khalsa, I was lucky enough to partner with S4E and I can't wait to go to more of their events with our counselor team in the future! What has been your favorite S4E event? At this year's Camp Khalsa hosted at the Mata Tripta Gurdwara in Plymouth, MI, the S4E team worked with all campers aging 6-14. My favorite project was a video the oldest group made to thank the Oak Creek police department for their efforts during the Oak Creek Gurdwara shooting on August 5, 2012. I thought this was an extremely creative way to give back to our American community. What do you like to do in your spare time? Outside of school, I really enjoy staying connected with my Sikh sangat. We're so lucky that there's always so many Sikh activities going on in Michigan (whether it's camps, retreats, seva projects, learning opportunities, or hangouts) and I enjoy getting to know Sikhs in this area. I also love writing and working with kids! |
|
Jasnoor Singh | June 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? I appreciate how the S4E team participates in many different events each month; no service event is the same as any other. You always get the opportunity to meet people of different backgrounds and ethnicities. I also frequently meet students and adults with unique stories to share. What has been your favorite S4E event? A while back, we volunteered at the Know your Sikh Neighbor event at the Canton Library. I was able to present about modern-day Sikh figures like Superwoman or Captain America (Vishavjit Singh). I also had the opportunity to discuss faith and practices with other members who stopped by to chat. What do you like to do in your spare time? I host a weekly music show for UofM-Dearborn's college radio station and enjoy participating in on-campus events. |
|
Sandeep Kaur | May 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? Seva is a great way to bring our community together and encourage one another. What has been your favorite S4E event? I feel all events were great. It's great to see young and old make an effort to help our community. All of the events that I have attended have been my favorite. What do you like to do in your spare time? I love running and meditating in my spare time. |
|
Harpreet Kalsi | April 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? Giving back to the community and those who are less fortunate are both very important to me and S4E is a great way to do both of these things. What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite S4E event so far has been the Senior Assisted Living Center. Talking to the guests there was amazing and it was a complete perspective changer. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to hang out with my friends and family, especially playing sports and weight training |
|
Imaan Singh | March 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? I thought it was a nice way to give back to my community. Volunteering is a lot of fun because I get to help out people who maybe are not as fortunate as I am and it's always a really great way to spend my Saturday. What has been your favorite S4E event? My favorite event was going to the Seniors Assisted Living Center. What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to spend time with my family and friends. |
|
Kabeer Singh | February 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E? Giving back has always been my passion, I was very fortunate growing up and I have always been taught to, “be grateful for what you have and to be willing to give back.” These events bring a sense of purpose, and are also opportunities to socialize with friends, meet new people and broaden my horizons. What has been your favorite S4E event? Thus far, my favorite event was the Miracle League baseball game, where we helped kids with special needs play baseball. It was a very humbling experience and it was heartwarming to see a smile on the faces of children who face countless struggles on a daily basis. What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time, I like to enjoy and observe nature. I live close to a few nature preserves and I have found that it is a good way to clear my head. |
Summer Sandhu | January 2017
Why do you volunteer with S4E?
I like how most of the events are centered around Detroit. Since I live in the city, I feel like I am giving back.
What has been your favorite S4E event?
I enjoyed all the events, but my favorite was giving food and gloves to the homeless community.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy going to locally owned cafes to read.
Why do you volunteer with S4E?
I like how most of the events are centered around Detroit. Since I live in the city, I feel like I am giving back.
What has been your favorite S4E event?
I enjoyed all the events, but my favorite was giving food and gloves to the homeless community.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I enjoy going to locally owned cafes to read.